Musical instrument



June 1-, 1926.

M. W. ASKIN MUSICAL NSTRUMENT Filed August 23, 1921 Patented June 1, 1926.

STATE 'MOEEIS W'. ASKIN, OF XVAS HINGTON, DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA.

MUSICAL INSTRUMENT.

Applcationfiled August 23, 1921. Serial No. 494579.

This invention relutes to a musical toy and more particularly to a novel and improved structure which can be operated by a desce-nding object, consecutively striking the musical sound bars.

A further object ot the invention is to provide u musical instrument of compeot ar rangement and simple construction.

With these objects in View and others which will be manifest and suggested as the purpose and .nature ot my invention ure revealed in the following specificaton, taken in connection with the accompanying drawing, which illustrates a preterrcd embodiment of the invention,

Fig. l is u Vertical cross-section of the musical toy.

Fig. 2 is u horizontal cross-secton taken on line 2-2 of Fig. l.

Fig. 3 is a horizontal cross-section taken on line 3-3 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 4 is a Vertical cross-section taken on line 4-4 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 5 is an enlarged detuil showing means of attaching the sound bars.

Fig. 6 is a modified form showing the musical instrument used as e toy.

Fig. 7 is an end section of Fig. 6 showing the trigger mec'henisin to release the balls.

Re'ferring now to the drawing wherein similar reference characters designate corresponding parts throughout the several Views, 1 designates the soundbox, l is the opening through whichthe sound escapes, l is the opening through which the balls may be removed.

The upper stair-like support 2, running diagonally with the sound box for the keys, is 'fastened et 3 at the upper end, and supported on tube 4, at its lower end.

The lower steir--like structure, Q is arrunged diztgonztlly with the sounding box in inverse direction with the upper, and is festened ut its uppor end to the side plate of the sounding box, and at its lower end to the bottom ot the box. y

The upper end of the tube 5, conforms in section with nn opening 5 in the upper cover of the sounding box; The tubes 4 and 5 are fastened to the steir-like structures 2 and 2 by clamps 6.

The sound producing sound bars of the ins runient, 7, are attuched to the steir-lile structures 2 and Q by screws 9, and inserted between the sound bars and structures 2 and s are felt washers 8,

The modification primarily intended as e toy as shown in Fig. 6, comprises e stair--like structure 16, supported in an inclined plane by any suitable means such as the inclined legs, l 10 designates a U shaped tube, opened at its lower end. The upper end ot the tube forms a magazine 11.

The trigger mechanism 12 regulates the descent of the balls, 5 & It is pivoted on the stair-like structure by pin 19?. It consists of e fork 12 and 12, the part 12 being the forward one and serving to support the for ward end of the foremost ball. The part 12 of the fort: serves to support the series of balls when the foremost ball is released. Two openings 12 in the magazine are provided to allow an oscilleting movement ot the two parte of the fork. A tray 17 is provided to catch the balls es they emerge.

A toy, known as Chicken Little, marked 13, streddles the tube 10, and on its descent, its roller 14 pivoted et 15, striles the sound bars and produces the tones. lt is understood that this modified form can be used either with the Chicken Little or with the descending balls 5 operated by the trigger mechanism.

Having shown and described my invention, what I now claim as new and desre to secure by Letters Putent of the United States is:

1. In a device of the class described in combination, a sound boX, stair-lilre structures, Supported therein, a guide on said structures, sound producing bars uttuched to the steps of the structure and means moving down said steps and guided by said guide to strike sound producing keys.

2. In e device of the class described, in combination, a sound box, stair-like structures supported theren. a guide supported on said structures, sound producing bars attached to the steps of the structure and balls moving down said steps and guided by said guide to strike sound producing keys.

3. In a device of the class described in combination, e sound box, e stair-like structure supported tberen.. a guide supported on said structure, sounding bars uttuched to said structure and means moving along said stairs to strike seid bars. i

4. In a derice of the class described, in conbination, u, stuir-like structure, sound bars attached to said steps, a guide supported in spaced relation to steps, means movng long seid steps tor striking said sound bars,

one end of said guide serving to hold said means and a release mechansn, cooperatng with said structure and guide, to control the desceut of said soundng means.

In u device ot the class clescribech in combinuuou u sound box, a stz* like Stl'llctu'e supported in said box, sound producing means attuched to the steps of said structure,

guide supported in spaced reluton to said' 10 steps, sound bur actuztng means novng along said steps and a guide to direct said sound bar actuating means, :n opening nt the top of the box through which said sound bur actuatng means may be ch'opped a space in the lower end of said box servng to collect said sound bnx.- uctuntng means after then' descent and an opening in said box, through which said sound bu uctuuting means may be removed.

In tcstinony whereo I am:: my signature.

M ORRS KV. ASKIN. 

